Datafeed Solutions

Datafeeds for Affiliates

Enabling affiliates to create a product/brand storefront, a comparison shopping engine or a collection of products to complement a review or blog post, an optimized data feed provides the key product information that shoppers look for prior to making a purchase, including product images, descriptions, prices, availability etc. As an affiliate, by providing this information in an organized, condensed and automated format on your website, not only will you save time, you will begin generating more click-through’s, and most importantly, more conversions.

Indeed, merchant data feeds are a powerful tool for maximizing your affiliate revenue. And yet, they can also be very complicated to seamlessly integrate with a website. This is why Green Affiliate Programs recommends utilizing a feed importing service, such as Datafeedr, PopShops or GoldenCAN. With platforms like these, there’s no need to concern oneself with all of the programatic, technical jargon needed to set up datafeeds for affiliates.

For non-Wordpress affiliate sites, the most common data feed importing solutions are: software platforms, server scripts, online services, affiliate network solutions and private-label solutions offered by merchants. Of these, the least technical know-how is needed for online applications and network solutions. The aforementioned Rakuten-owned POPShops and GoldenCAN are both online importing services that can be integrated by dropping in a single line of code on one’s website.

GoldenCAN is free for affiliates and the easier of the two, offering cut-and-paste integration to create coupon feeds and one-click storefronts for over 250 merchants spanning all of the major networks, including Shareasale, Linkshare and CJ.

POPShops charges a monthly fee, but provides more customization features, including the ability to change product descriptions for individual products (good for SEO), and the ability to create custom shops using products from merchants in different affiliate networks.

The other, low-tech method for integrating datafeeds for affiliates is through affiliate network solutions. Shareasale’s “Make-A-Page” feature, for example, enables affiliates to search products by keyword and select desired products to go on a pre-coded web page that can be displayed by simply copying and pasting the HTML code. The row of rechargeable batteries listed immediately below is a very simple example using Shareasale’s “Make-A-Page” data feed solution.

As you can see, there are many ways to integrate a data feed. While in the early days of affiliate marketing, only the technically savvy were able to make use of this vital tool, nowadays there are many user-friendly data feed solutions for affiliates.

If you are a prospective or current Green Affiliate, and have questions or need additional recommendations regarding data feed solutions, please contact us.